YOL. 28. 



DECEMBEE, 18T3. 



E"0. 330. 



Cranberries. 



IPt ANBERRY culture for a few years past has been fully tested, and entered into with 

 strong enthusiasm. In some places their cultivation has been (j[uite a success, in 

 others a complete failure, until, by experience, they have overcome the difl&culties 

 they encountered in their first efforts. It may be of use to those who wish to raise 

 cranberries to know the difficulties they have to encounter, as well as their success. 

 About twelve years since six acres were taken up that had been wet and covered with 

 bogs and brush ; it was drained, cleared of roots, and made smooth (soil clear peat) 

 without sand; the vines set in rows about two feet apart and kept clean for two or 

 three years. They covered the ground with a rank growth of runners eight to twelve 

 feet long, with very few fruit buds. The following season they grew in the same way 

 and formed a mat several inclies through ; a lease of the ground was taken for ten 

 years, on sluircs ; during that time the average crop was not over 100 bushels, except 

 one year, when there was gathered about ,500 bushels ; two years since it was not 

 flowed, and nearly all the plants died except where a small part had been sanded the 

 year previous and new plants set, which have done finely, and this year tliey are bearing 

 a crop. So much for the failure. 



A portion of these vines with other portions of the ground has been covered with 

 pure sand two or three inches thick, and new vines planted out and have grown finely, 

 with a short bearing stem. Those vines this season are full of fruit. Pure sand 

 should be used ; where there is any soil with it weeds and grass grow more freely and 

 largely increase the labor in keeping it clean. On this plot there have been a number 



